Strip element of printing-forms and process of making the same.



A. L. KNIGHT.

STRIP ELEMENT 0F PRINTING. FORMS AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, I916.-

I Patented Aug. 14,1917.

a SHEETSSHEET 1.

nw A A. L. KNIGHT.

STRIP ELEMENT 0F PRINTING FORMS AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.

APPLICATION men APR. I. 1916.,

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I I A. L. KNIGHT.

STRIP ELEMENT 0F PRlNTINGfORMS AND PROCESS OF MAKING IHE SAME- APPLICATION FILED APR-1. 1916- I 1,237,058. Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

a SHEEITS-SHEET a.

entrain s an 'r a n) A3505 L. KNIGHT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 LANSTON MONO- TYPE MAEEILNE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION VIRGINIA.

STRIP ELEMENT 0F PRINTING-FORMS AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.

memes.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 14:, 1917. Original application filed October 3, 1914, Serial No. 864,834. Divided and this application filed April 1,

1-916. Serial No. 88,334.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Amos L. KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Strip Elements, of Printing-Forms and Processes of Making the Same; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanylng drawings, forming part of this speclfication, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

This application is a divlslon of my coriding application Serial Number 864,894, filed October 3rd, 1914:, now Patent No. 1.222315, April 10, 1917, the said application describing and claiming a form of apparatus which may be-employed for carrying out the process and producing the article forming the subject matter of the present application.

This invention relates to elements of printing forms and more particularly to strip material thereof such as rules, leads and the like and the principal object thereof is to produce economically such strips, from metal commonly employed in the type casting art for casting type characters and known as type metal.

In the practical making of the strip ma terial of the present invention it was found to-be of great importance, especially with strip material provided with a printing surface to follow a rocess in which enerall i a a set forth. the molten type metal is forced,

into a suitable cavity, one of the walls;of-' I which constitutes a matrix or die to determine the facial characteristics of the finished strip, the metal when congealed being fed forwardly to permit the entry of the next increment and to close the eXjit-pof'the cavity, the above operations beingJr'epeated successively to produce a strip of the desired length. g-

The product oflsuch process is, as will be readily understood, a strip of type metal of definite width and depth and of indefinite length, which is formed of successively congealed sections fused together to form an integral structure.

1 congealing becomes melted in the region of Each section after 1 the end thereof which forms the end wall of gealed section. The injection being prefer-' ably cross-wise of the strip and introduced under pressure to impinge against the matrix bearing wall of the cavity insures the production of strip sections which are substantially solid throughout, especially along the surface defined by the matrix against which the molten metal impinges. Gas in the metal and all air trapped in the cavity are driven away from the matrix forming wall by the impact of the molten metal-and are either imprisoned ultimately in the portions of the strip section remote from the matrix wall or are forced, as in the preferred manner, but of the strip cavity or mold into the gate to be described hereinafter.

The above process is ofpeculiar advantage in producing printing strip material because it is analogous in principle to the universally employed injection method of making individual types and is productive of strips as accurate in dimensions, measured for example in points, and as perfect with respect to printing surface as are type produced bv the said injection method. Moreover this strip j'nat'erial is capable of being produced by machines for casting type,- 'said. machines being altered in only a few respects as illustrated, for example, in the said" Patent No. 1,222,415. V

In the accompanying drawings,'-

Fig. 3 is an elevation looking at the left hand end the mold and associated parts shown in lugs. 1 and 2, but omitting the mold blade operating bar.

Fig- 4. is a section in a horizontal plane,

Figure 1 1s a sectional view in a plane longitudinally with the parts shown in a more or less die-.1-

grammatic manner, through the mold'ahd associate parts to illustrate the operation of the mold blade and cutter. fl

Figs. 5 and Gare diagranunatic illustra- 'tions of the strip material of the present invention in the form of a portion of a printers rule and the mold blade which cooperates therewith to advance the rule and to form the space for the reception of succeeding increments of molten metal.

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views looking at opposite sides of a short section of printers lead, made in accordance with this in vention.

Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

For convenience and accuracy of construc-' tion the mold is preferably a built-up structure and embodies a mold base 3 formed with a channel therethrough in the direction of the movement of the mold blade, thus providing front and rear upwardly extending portions 4' which are connected across the top of the mold by tie bars 5. There are suitable cooperating shoulders and connecting screws and the shoulders are preferably formed by grooves 6 in the mold base. in which projections T on the tie bars seat, whereby an exceedingly rigid structure is formed and one capable of being finished with ahigh degree of accuracy by known economical shop methods. Confined within vthe channel extending through the mold base are the type blocks between which the cavity for the reception of the molten metal is formed, and these type blocks are preferably in the form of bars which extend out at each end of the mold base and are adapt- I ed for the reception, between such extended. The front type block may be of similar construction and arranged to be placed in opposition thereto, but it is preferably formed in two sections 913.1101 10 for convenience in manufacture, st) as to provide at one side of the mold cavit 1y achannel and. exit opening through whi 11 air and a portion of the molten metal fiiom the mold cavity may escape, in the forni of a more or less spongy mass which, for fconveniience may be called a gate, lying at oiie side of the element and adapted to be subsequently ,evered therefrom. The upper front type block 9 substantially corresponds in outline to the upper half of the rear type block 8 and the lower front type block 10 substantially corresponds in outline to the 1 lower half of the rear type block 8, while between the two sections is formed a narrow space 11, and this space widens out within the type block in the form of a channel which is dove-tail or triangular'in cross face in .the mold base with the projections 13, 14, 15 and 16 in position against the ends of the mold base and sides of the tie bars respectively, as shown clearly in F ig. 1, while between the projections there are placed point blocks 13% 14 15 and 16 which are of a thickness corresponding to the point size of the element to be cast and thus define the width'of the mold cavity.

here the front type block is made in two sections as hereinbefore described, the upper section 9 is preferably made rigid with the lower section 10 by being fixed accurately thereto and supported by an upwardly extending portion 10 of the section 10 to which it' is connected by screws or other suitable fastenings, as will be readily understood by an inspection of. Fig. 2, which shows these parts in cross section.

The two type blocks forming between them the mold cavity, are positioned laterally of the mold base by a backing plate 17 in rear of the reartype block and by a pressure screw 18 passing through the front projection 4 of the mold base and adapted to bear against the front type block. This pressure screw in the preferred construction is operated periodically in time with the feeding of the element being cast, to clamp the sides of the mold cavity together during the casting operation and to release such .pressure during the feeding of the element forwardly in the mold cavityas described in' the before-mentioned patent.

The bottom of the mold cavity is. formed 'by the mold base, and is provided with a nozzle opening 20 (Fig. 1) through which the molten metal is in ected into the mold cavity from a nozzle 20" having its opening slightly inclined. The top of the mold cavity is formed by a matrix or member which gives shape to the upper face of the element being cast, and where printers rules are to be formed, this matrix, indicated in the drawings at 21, is provided in its lower face with a groove 22 of proper cross sectional shape to give form to the printing edge of the rule, but it will be understood that one or more of such grooves may be formed in the matrix, depending upon the character of the printing surface desired.

The matrix 21 is adapted to seat against a matrix abutment 23 mounted on the upper face of the rear type block and it is positioned against such abut-ment by a locating plate 24 resting on the front type block be-- The -matrix is held tween the tie bars. firmly in position by a matrix clamp 25 hav ing two surfaces 25 for cooperation with one edge and the top of the matrix, and an corresponds to the point size of the element cavity.

being cast and is adapted to reciprocate between the proximate faces of the type blocks from the forward position indicated in Fig. 1, where its front edge is just forward of the nozzle opening, to a positionin rear of said nozzle opening which will determine the width of the cavity to be filled by molten metal. The movement of the mold blade is preferably so adjusted that when at the rear extreme of its movement its upper edge will register with the rear end of the groove in the matrix, although the range of movement is susceptible of adjustment.

The forward end of the mold. blade, which, when retracted, forms the rear end wall of the mold cavity, is shaped to give the desired conformation to the rear edge of thetype metal when congealed and it has been found desirable in practice to give the rear edge of the type metal a conformation which will. facilitate the fusion of the metal with the next increment injected into the mold It is for this reason that the upper portion of the mold blade is curved rearwardly, to thereby form an overhanging or inclined face at the rear edge of the congealed type metal along and against which the infiowing molten metal will travel in filling the mold. The relation of this rear edge of the type metal to the incoming jet of molten metal will be ui'iderstood from an inspection of Fig. 1 which shows the front end of the mold blade in its forward position, and consequently said front edge conforms to the shape of the rear edge of the type metal which has been advanced by the forward movement of the mold blade. Ow-

ing to this formation the rear edge of the congealed metal is sub ected to the direct contact of the incoming metal which constantly travels along said edge until the mold cavity is filled, and it is believed that this formation also materially assists in discharging the air from the mold cavity during the entrance o f the molten metal inasmuch as any tendency toward a cellular forl mation or the fprination of cavities in the casting is always found to exist at a point considerably below the upper edgeiind con sequently the upper edge is perfect and solid so as to present a proper printing surface.

The provision of the transverse opening into the channel at one side of the mold cavity permits of the complete discharge of ing of leads and rules when this opening extends clear along the side of the cavity, and is located at or slightly below the center of the cavity.

The metal which enters the channel and forms the gate is connected with the side of the element being cast by a very thin attachment, and it is preferably fed out of the channel simultaneously with the element to 'which it is'attached. Such feeding movement of the gate is preferably effected by a gate pusher 28 conveniently operated directly by the mold blade, the connection between thegate pusher 28 and mold blade being formed by a foot 29 on the rear end of-the pusher which'enters a socket or opening 30 in the mold blade.

At its rear end the mold blade 27 enters the mold between the upper and lower mold blade shoes 31 and 32, respectively, and its forward. movement is arrested by a mold blade stop 33, ing in the mold blade and attached 'to the mold blade base bya screw 34. A mold blade stop of this character leaves the opposite side of the mold blade exposed for the attachment of the mold blade operating bar 35. The bar 35 at its forward end enters a recess 37 in the type block. at the side of extending into the usual open-v the mold blade, and is pivotally connected to the type blocks and passes through a friction clamp one member of which is a gate shear serving to detach the gate from the side of the element and to form a smooth face on the side should there be any roughness or projecting metal thereon. The gate shear is shown at 44, Fig. l, while opposed to the flat face of said gate shear is a friction block 45 advanced by spring pressure through the medium of a spring 46 located within a bore in the block 45 and adapted to be held up to its work by a plunger 47 forming the inner end of a friction clamp adjusting screw 48.

Assuming that the mold blade has advanced, pushing before it the portion of the printers rule previously cast, and has retracted or is in the act of retracting to leave a space between the end of the mold blade and rear edge face of the portion of the rule already cast, the into operation to bring the'nozzle of the pump into the opening 20 and inject a quantity of molten metal sufiicient to fill the mold cavity and to force a portion of the molten metal together with the air previously in the pump mechanism comes and is deflected thereby directly against the matrix wall of the cavity so as to set up a swirling movement in the cavity. The impingement and flow of the molten metal against and along the face of the congealed metal raises the heat of the latter to a point where fusion will take place and effects a perfect union of the two increments or portions of the metal.

Just before or during the time the metal is being injected and congealed in the mold cavity the actuating lever is operated to set up the pressure screw 18 on the type blocks so as to clamp all of the parts tightly t gether and as soon as the metal is congealed this pressure is withdrawn by the reverse movement of the actuating lever 58 and the mold blade is innnediatel advanced to feed the casting forwardly.

These operations are repeated in succession until the desired length of rule has been cast and as the rule issues from between the clamps the gate at the side thereof is severed and drops down into the melting pot where it is melted for subsequent use. I

A diagrammatic representation of the operation is found in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, wherein the completed rule is indicated at-65, the severing of the gate from the side of the rule at 66, and the end of the mold blade in its advanced position after having fed the rule forwardly at 67. W hen the mold blade retracts to the position indicated in'Fig. 6, it leaves a space 68 in which the subsequent casting is effected, and this space, it will be understood, may be regu.

lated in size by the adjustment of the movement of the mold blade and by the introduction of different point blocks and mold blades where the point size is to be changed, as well as by the substitution of diflferent matrices Where the style of the printing surface is to be changed or where the printing surface is to. be entirely eliminated and shoulder high or low elements formed.

By giving the forward end of the mold blade a curvature such as shown,- any tendency of -the metal to wedge up against the matrix is effectually overcome.

The lead or rule strip which is produced by the process described is, when it issues from the machine, a distinctive finished prodnot; that is to say, it is a strip which is of the proper transverse dimension, for use in a form of printing type. The face or that edge which corresponds to the face of the type is a cast face and the surfaces of the strip at the sides are cast surfaces which in appearance and function correspond substantially to the appearance and function of the face and surfaces of ordinary undressed. cast type, and consequently require no planing, dressing or finishing, either to give the .proper transverse dimension. or face or surface finish. The strip product is thus sharply distinguished fromrprior lead and rule strip material which, as/heretofore made by the rolling extrusion or machining processes, invariably presented surfaces which were not cast surfaces but were dressed sur' faces. The process of the present invention has made practicable the production of lead and rule strip material formed of type metal or soft metal and of any desired length, which strip material is more advantageous and desirable under modern conditions than is the ordinary brass strip material.

The distinctive characteristic of the material produced by the present process is due to the fact that the face and surfaces are cast surfaces, that is to say, surfaces which are, during the time the metal is congealing, confined within accurately dimensioning mold faces and therefore present the appearance of cast surfaces easily recognizable those skilled in the art, and one characteristic appearance of which is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

In these figures of the drawings, theportions of the surfaces indicated at R are slightly roughened or frosted "while the pertions of the surfaces indicated at S are smooth or substantially freefrom roughness or frosting. Itis, of course, desirable that the face of the strip, especially where the face is intended for use as a printing face shall be as smooth and as uniformly regular'as it is possible to make the same, and in practice it is found that where the molten metal is caused to congeal in contact w :h a matrix, this desirable result can. be accomplished. Just the causes which produce the characteristically distinctive appearance of a the surface of the mold from a time when the metal is thoroughly fluid, until the same is congealed apparently produces the bright or smooth areas. Regardless of the reason for the distinctive appearance, the surfaces are distinguishable as cast surfaces even though they may and frequently do'have longitudinal striations or'scratches due'to the pass sage of the material through the holding.

parts of the apparatus subsequent to the lli] iongealing of the sections or increments in the mold cavity.

The several increments or sections which go to make up the complete strip are congealed in the mold cavity successively and merge.

one into the-other by a process of fusion.

Thus, there is produced under ordinary air-t, cumstanccs, a repetition of the patternof the cast surfaces which distinctively defines the successive increments and enables the prod not to be at once distinguished from the products of processes previously known in the art.

What I claim is:

1. A finished type metal strip to form a lead or rule element in a form of printing type, composed of successively 'congnlled sections of metal merged by fusion one into the other with finished east side surfaces showing the sectional formation and with a cast face.

A finished type metal strip to form a lead or rule element in a form of printing type, composed of successively congealed increments of metal "forming sections each with finishedcast side surfaces showing the sectional formation and with a cast face, the several sections being merged one into the other to form an element of any desired length.

3. The method of producing a strip of material for use in a form of printing type and having finished cast surfaces which coir sists in congealing successive increments of molten metahwhile confined in a mold cavity' having finished internal surfaces and with each succeeding increment in --contact with a previously congealed increment,

whereby the increments are merged by fusion, and intermittently feeding the congealed metal forwardly out of the'mold cavity.

4. The method of forming a distinctive finished strip of material for use in a form of printing type which'consists in. intermittently forcing increments of" molten metal into a mold eayitvthe exit to which is closed by the congealed metal forming the strip, intermittently feeding the metal forwardly through the exit of the nfold (cavity and in causing the molten metal to cohgeal in the mold cavity duringthe intervals between feed movements.

5. The method of forming a strip of type metal having finished cast surfaces and adapted for use in a printing form, which consists in casting the same in successive sections into a mold cavity having finished internal surfaces, with a rear edge of a preceding section in direct contact with the molten metal of the succeeding section whereby the sections are caused to fuse together, due to the inherent heat of the metal being cast, and intermittently feeding the ment, causing the succeeding increments to unite by fusion, intermittently feeding the metal forwardly through the exit of the mold cavity and in causing the molten metal to congeal in the mold cavity during theintervals between feed movements.

7. The method of forming a distinctive finished continuous strip of metal for use in a form of printing type, which consists in forcibly injecting an increment of molten type metal. into a mold cavity, the exit to which cavity is closed by the congealed metal of a previous increment, causing the proximate portions of the two increments to unite by fusion, allowing the increment of molten metal to congealin the mold cavity, then feeding the congealed and unitedincrements forwardly to permit the entry of the succeeding increment and in repeating said operations to form finished strip of the desired length, with finished cast surfaces.

8. The method of forming a continuous strip of material for use in the printing art, which. consists in making successive individual castings each having an edge, a portion of 'which edge extends rearwardly of another portion thereof, retaining said edge in position to form a moltling'face for the next succeeding casting, whereby the molten metal of the next succeedingcasting will flow against said edge, and in continuing said successive operations until. the length of thestrip desired is produced.

9. The method of forming a continuous strip of material for use in the printing art, which consists in making a type metal casting having a rear edgewhich is extended AMOS L. KNIGHT. 

